Immersive SquadFor the most part, I’m a pessimist. Not the-sky-is-falling-and-we’re-all-gonna-die levels of negativity, but definitely glass half empty. And yet, time and again I find myself stunned by the consistency with which Atlanta and Athens produce exciting new talent. For every artist that ships off to Nashville or Brooklyn or L.A. in hopes of accelerating their career, it seems like three more promising acts jump in to take their place. It’s wild. I may not be able to escape the lightning rush of impending doom that is American democracy right now, but, holy fuck, am I bullish on local music.
Which brings us to this list. Every year it seems like this feature gets pushed further towards February as we dig deeper into the local underground and unearth new gems. There’s plenty here that you may already be familiar with—new projects from established voices looking to push their songwriting into captivating new realms. But hopefully, there are many more artists you are encountering for the first time. Above all, this list is meant as a tool for discovery, and also as a primer for the ever-evolving landscape of local music. So dive in. Find your favorite new band. 2020 is going to rule. – Guillermo Castro
Andrea & Mud
Andrea & Mud are a songwriting duo that has come up from open mic nights to touring with the likes of Southern Culture on the Skids. They’re scrappy with a whole lot of ambition; their songs live in smoky dive bars and extended-stay hotels. Their magic is due in part to the pairing of Andrea Colburn’s evocative characters with Mud Mosley’s chicken-picked Telecaster. It’s a little bit Bukowski and a healthy dose of B-movie realness. And since good music never goes out of style, don’t try to pigeonhole them as throwbacks. Last year they cut their new album Bad News Darlin’ with Damon Moon at Standard Electric Recorders Co., and they’re looking forward to releasing it in 2020 and making big moves, so keep your eyes and ears peeled. – Ethan Fogus
More Info
Web: andreaandmud.com
Bandcamp: andreandmud.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @andreaandmud
Instagram: @andreaandmud
Twitter: @andrea_colburn
The Big Heed
Released on New Year’s Day, Local Honey establishes the Big Heed as prime purveyors of hip-thrusting blues and fuzzy slacker anthems that feel like a preternatural union of MC5 and Alabama Shakes. It’s a big, brash, earnest record capable of affecting the listener in a variety of ways; it’s as funky as it is raw, as catchy as it expansive. Creating music that is both challenging and easy to digest is a hard task, but the group’s clever hooks and playful enthusiasm help provide balance to their more exploratory tendencies. Where the band goes from here is anyone’s guess but one thing remains certain: the Big Heed know how to make a proper entrance, and the party’s just getting started. – GC
More Info
Web: thebigheed.com
Bandcamp: thebigheed.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @TheBIGHEED
Instagram: @thebigheed
Calico Vision
I need a trip that really goes somewhere, man. These kids who say they’re “psychedelic” today just don’t know how to chill; they hype you up with the wah-wah, but then it’s all briefcases and photographs from stiffs that have never left their own skin. Such a bummer. Now, these cats from Athens who call themselves Calico Vision, they’ve got a groovy wavelength. They can coast through time AND space, man. I’ve seen prisms and hammocks, dinosaurs drinking Kool-Aid, sailboats that spiral down the drain, stars twinkling on tender buttons. You’ve got to check out their debut while it’s still fresh, dude. – LA
More Info
Bandcamp: calicovision.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @calicovisionband
Instagram: @calicovisionband
Clone Suspect
One of the newest artists on our list, Clone Suspect, is a collaboration between Peter Roglin and Howie Huntington that shatters preconceptions of electronic music. It’s easy to use umbrella terms like experimental when analyzing electronica, but the complexity and tension of Clone Suspect’s production make it difficult to relegate their music into even such a broad category. Techno seems like a harmless enough genre to call out, but get a minute into any of their tracks and all adjectives begin to ring hollow. Alternating between rich soundscapes and brittle beats, Clone Suspect seem ready to dominate dancefloors and headphone expeditions alike. – Russell Rockwell
More Info
Instagram: @clonesuspect
DavidTheTragic
I watch a lot of NBA. And lately I’ve been playing this game where I compare Atlanta rappers to the league’s best ballers. So hear me out when I say DavidTheTragic is our city’s Luka Doncic. Think about it. He’s a young, fearless, versatile rapper with deceptive quickness that can break down opponents in a variety of ways. Play it safe and he’ll burn you from distance. Press him too hard and he’ll body you up or blow right past you. His best rhymes rarely come from where you expect; his arsenal of cadences and rhythmic ingenuity make his bars hard to predict, and yet they always seem to connect in ways that are impactful. Last year’s Bender proved DavidTheTragic was a force to be reckoned with; in 2020, he’s gunning for All-Star status. – Avery Shepherd
More Info
Instagram: @davidthetragic
SoundCloud: @davidthetragic
Twitter: @DavidTheTragic